How does the management of heart health in women with PCOS occur?
This is through lifestyle modification, stress management, and surveillance. These help reduce the risks to heart disease as well as improve a woman’s quality of life.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is an endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age that involves an irregular menstrual cycle, elevated levels of androgens, and the development of polycystic ovaries. The prevalence of PCOS in India ranges from 3.7 to 22.5%. However, most of these effects relate to reproductive disability, and another serious consequence is cardiovascular morbidity associated with the disorder. Due to insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity, females with PCOS are prone to heart disease. In later stages, complications of PCOS can lead to heart diseases and endometrial cancer. These factors combine to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the management of PCOS thus must take heart health into account.
Risk Factors
Consultant – Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital Dr Manjula N V said that inability to respond to insulin-a hallmark of PCOS-leads to the very likely-associated counterpart: Type 2 diabetes and chronic inflammation that are major contributors to heart disease. In addition to these, women with PCOS have other cardio metabolic consequences, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, and the metabolic syndrome. All of these conditions greatly increase cardiovascular risk. It is worsened by the presence of metabolic syndrome characterized by increased abdominal obesity, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol profiles. Many studies have found women with PCOS have subclinical markers of CVD. Thus, early intervention and regular monitoring of risks are necessary for their proper management.
Prevention Measures
Prevention of the risk of CVD can be achieved many ways for women with PCOS.
- Preventive strategies mostly lie in lifestyle modifications, and especially on the management of the weight and regular activity.
- Exercise improves the sensitivity of the cells to insulin, reduces blood pressure, and lowers the amount of body fat.
- Along with that, a proper diet which would include high intake of whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, will help maintain weight and reduce cholesterol.
- Another major factor is stress management. The chronic stress worsens hormonal imbalances and heart health as well.
- So it is advisable that every woman should practice yoga and meditation with regular sleep to control stress.
